Another One Bites the Dust : 28 Quiz

Answer: Anthony Eden

His health been changed forever when his bile duct was damaged in an operation for gallstones, leaving him with recurring abdominal problems requiring surgery. In 2006, private papers were found showing that his health issues were treated with a combination of amphetamines and a drug called Drinamyl (known as 'Purple Hearts').

This drug would have affected his judgement at the time of the Suez crisis. Drinamyl was banned in 1978 when its effects became better understood. He died 14 January 1977.

Answer: Peter Finch

He was the first actor to receive a Best Actor Oscar posthumously. He made an Australian short called "The Magic Shoes" (1935) which also starred Helen Hughes, who was the daughter of William Morris Hughes, who had previously been Prime Minister of Australia.

It was however never released and has been declared a lost film by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia who have placed it on their 'most wanted' list.

Answer: Gary Gilmore

Prior to his execution, there had been a ten-year moratorium on executions in the U.S.

Gilmore actually requested that he be shot and tried to commit suicide when the first stay of his execution was granted and again a month later. His last words were apparently "Let's do it". The sporting goods company Nike ran a "Just Do It" advertising campaign which according to Dan Wieden, the advertising executive responsible for the campaign, was based on these last words. Since then there have been over 1,300 further executions in America. Spenkelink, Bishop and Coppola are 2nd-4th in that list.

Answer: Wernher von Braun

With the launch of Russia's Sputnik 1 satellite, it was certain America was behind in the space race. Von Braun was given the go ahead to create an orbital launch vehicle he had proposed 3 years earlier but had been denied. NASA was created in 1958 and Von Braun was at the forefront of America's space program.

He retired in 1972 when budget constraints forced NASA to reconsider the effort being put into the Apollo program. He died of pancreatic cancer 16 June 1977.

Answer: Francis Gary Powers

Soviet intelligence had been aware of the U2 spy-planes flying over their territory for several years but had not been able to do anything about them because of the great height at which they flew. In 1962, this changed and Powers was shot down. He parachuted to the ground and was captured.

The US issued a statement about a 'weather plane' pilot being missing. Powers had been unable to set off the plane's self destruct system and it had crashed almost intact. All its secret equipment therefore fell into the hands of the Soviets. Powers was exchanged for a KGB spy some months later.

He was killed in a helicopter crash on 1st August 1977.

Answer: Julius Marx

Julius was better known as 'Groucho'. Leonard was 'Chico', Adolph was 'Harpo', Herbert was 'Zeppo' and the fifth Marx brother was Milton ('Gummo'). Groucho is famous for amusing quotes such as "Marriage is a wonderful institution. But who wants to live in an institution?" He died on 19 August 1977.

Answer: Bing Crosby

He died in Madrid during a round of golf on 14 October 1977. He is one of a select few to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (one for radio, one for his singing career and one for his career in pictures). "White Christmas" was the bestselling single for more than 50 years until it was overtaken by Elton John's "Candle In The Wind".

He and Bob Hope made 7 'Road' films together. Bing was nominated for an Oscar on two occasions for playing the same role in two separate films. He played Father O'Malley in "Going My Way" (1944) (for which he won the Oscar) and also in "The Bells of St. Mary's" (1945).

Answer: Steve Biko

Biko was arrested on 18 August 1977 under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 and questioned for 22 hours. He was tortured and beaten unconscious resulting in a coma. He had severe head injuries. It wasn't until 11 September 1977 that he was taken to a prison with hospital facilities, still naked and manacled.

He died the following day. A British journalist, Donald Woods, exposed what had happened to his friend and was forced to flee the country. He wrote a book about Steve entitled "Biko" which was later turned into the film "Cry Freedom" (1987).

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis was actually a twin. His brother Jesse died at birth, 35 minutes before Elvis was born. He is a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln's great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison. Elvis died on 16 August 1977 and he was placed in the family crypt. Eleven days later an attempt was made to steal his body. Three men were charged with trespassing and released on bond.

The Memphis Adjustment board gave permission for the re-interment of Elvis and his mother Gladys to the Meditation Garden at Graceland on 2 October 1977.

Answer: Charles Chaplin

Most famous as an icon of silent films, everybody will recognise the "Little Tramp" character with his bowler hat, moustache, cane and funny walk. In 1943, a lady called Joan Barry brought a paternity suite against him. Blood tests proved he was not the father of the child, but as they were inadmissible evidence at the time, he was ordered to pay $75 a week until the child was 21.

He died at his Swiss home on Christmas Day 1977. In 1978, his corpse was stolen from its grave. It took 3 months to find it and this time he was buried in a vault surrounded by cement.